Printing mechanism



B. H'. r-REEDMAN PRINTING MECHANISM Jan. 5, w43.

Filed Feb. 29, 1940 s sheets-sheet 1 lNvEN-roR' y ATTORNEY Nm. Q@ .w Y 1 ma @Y m x @y @QQ Jan. 5, w43. B, H. FREEDMAN PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 www NKY ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1943. B. H. FREEDMAN PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 29, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @atentecl Jan. 5, 1943 stares Arent orties-f 9 Claims.

This invention relates to printing mechanisms in general, and more especially to a printing mechanism for printing a marking, lettering, symbol or the like on a succession of mediums such as theatre tickets and the like.

Among the objects of the present invention, it is aimed to provide an improved printing mechanism for printing one of a series of markings, letterings, symbols or the like on a predetermined number of successive mediums such as theatre tickets and the like formed on a strip, and Suc' cessively changing the marking, lettering, symbol or the like at the end of each run of a predetermined number so that a number of predetermined quantities of mediums such as theatre tickets or the like may be expeditiouslyV printed in succession, each quantity of a predeterminednumber containing a diiie'rent individual marking, lettering, symbol or the like of a series.

t is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved printing mechanism for printing a predetermined number of one of each of a succession of markings, letterings, symbols or the like on a predetermined number of mediums, such as theatre tickets and the like formed in a strip, with one marking, lettering, symbol or the like for each medium, ticket unit area or the like, which printing mechanism may readily be attached to a. rotary press suitable for printing a strip of successive theatre tickets or the like.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the sub-joined detail description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective of a ticket strip made according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the printing mechanism attached toa rotary printing press or the like;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevation partly in section of one of the main units of the improved mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is aV section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring for the shift control;

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail of the guide for guiding the immediate strip into and out of printing position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmental section of the odd bearing with its associated printing Wheels;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the odd bearing illustrated in Fig. 8; v

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective of one or" the bearing plate units for supporting the printv ing wheels;

Fig. 11 is asection onthe line il-ii of Fig. 4; and

Fig. l2 is a fragmental detail particularly in section of one of the type Wheels and its actuation.

According to the present invention, it is aimed to provide an improved machine for forming the symbols l on the ticket strip 2 illustrated in Fig. l, onesymbol i for each ticket unit area 3, the unit area 3 being about one inch in length and two inches in Width. In other Words, the Width of the unit area 3 corresponds to the width of the strip 2, and the length of the strip 2 is a succession of lengths of unit areas 3. In the present instance, the strip 2 is provided with a longitudinally extending line il, preferably a perforated line, and positioned oif center to divide the'strip into two lengths of stub areas 5 and 0, the-narrow stub areas 5 reserved for the patrons and the broad stub areas S reserved for the accounting department of the theatre.

According to the present invention, the symbols i are not identical for all issues or series but `purposely*different or changed for successive issues, the number of different symbols l being indefinite, although to satisfy certain circumstances, fty diiferent symbols should ordinarily suffice. In View of the foregoing, the mechanism hereinafter to be described is equipped With symbol or type carrying Wheels of which the Wheel 1 illustrated in Fig. 4 is typical. According to the present invention, mechanism is provided whereby the change from one symbol to another Will take place mechanically after having completed impressing a certain symbol on a predetermined number of ticket unit areas 3.

While the mechanism now to be described and illustrated is directed primarily for use with rotary presses, it will be obvious that mechanism made according to the principle of this invention can also readily be constructed for use with at bed presses in which the chase or printing wheel is reciprocated into and out of impressing position.

In the present embodiment, see Fig. 2, the housing 3 of a rotary press of the type in which diiferent printed matter is impressed on a strip of tickets at successive stations, is shown as having a supply roll of ticket material 9 mounted on the shaft l0 being fed through the housing Where it may pass through an initial station for receiving printed matter before passing on to the idler II, from which the strip of ticket material I2 from the supply roll e then passes to and between the platen roller I3 and the printing drum I4. The printing drum I4 is shown as mounted on the shaft E5 which is drivingly connected with the driven shaft oi the rotary press contained in the housing I. From the drum I4, the strip then passes to and between the two idlers I6 and I'I to the next station determined by the roller platen i8 and printing drum I9 mounted on the shaft 2li which is likewise drivingly connected with the drive and the rotary press mounted in the housing 8. From the printing drum IS, the strip I2 then passes to and between the `idlers 2i and 22 and from there back into engagement with subsequent printing stations in the rotary press of the housing I3. In the present instance, the type or symbols on the printing wheels1 mounted in the drum I4 are inked by engagernc-nt with the inking roller v23 deriving its ink from the intermediate transfer roller 24 which in turn derives its ink from the reservoir roller 25 rotating in the reservoir 26, and similarly the type or symbols on the printing wheels 1 of the drum I9 are inked by the inking roller 21 deriving its ink from the transfer roller 2B in engagement with the main ink supply roller 29 rotatably mounted in the ink supply in the reservoir 3-0.

rlhe drums I4 and I9 are positio-ned in the present instance to impress a symbol on alternate ticket unit areas 3 on the strip I. In other words, if the drum I 4 impresses the symbols 3l, 32, 33 and so on, the drum I9 is timed to impress the alternate symbols 34, 3e, and so on. In this way, the speed of the drums I4 and I9 may be reduced one-half. In conventional ticket printing machines today in use, it is not uncommon to print forty-tive hundred unit ticket areas per minute. Since, as hereinafter to be described, each drum I4, I 9 has forty-five type Wheels 1 calling for forty-five impressions in each cycle or revolution of a drum I4 or I9, if only one drum were used to impress a symbol in each ticket unit as it passes through the rotary press, it would require one hundred revolutions per minute of such single drum. Ii two drums were used,

and each carried forty-ve printing wheels, the

two drums would only need to revolve fty times a minute. Obviously, it would not require invention to multiply the number of drums, further to reduce the speed of rotation. In other words, if three drums were used instead of two, each drum would print a symbol on one of three successive ticket unit areas, omitting the other two ticket unit areas for receiving impressions from the other two drums.

Since the drums I4 and I 9 are substantially identical, it will suffice to illustrate one in detail. In Fig. fi, the drum i4 is shown as consisting of a disc portion 35 having a cylindrical portion 38 having in the present instance forty-five openings 39 to enable a portion of the type wheels 1 to extend therethrough. The inner face of the cylindrical portion 3S is recessed at 40 to receive the base portions 4I of the large bearing members 42, see Fig. IG. One of these main bearing members 42 is fixed to the cylindrical portion 38 by the screws 43 and 44 between each two suc- 'f cessive printing wheels 1. The bearing members 42 have a radially extending plate portion 45 with a shoulder i6 at the bottom and a shoulder 41 at the top. The inner faces 48 and 49 of the shoulders 4t and 47 diverge from one another as they approach the plate 45. In the plate portion 45 there is formed a bearing opening 50. In the space formed between the shoulders 41 and 46, there is slidably mounted the small bearing member 5I, the faces 52 and 53 of which are inclined to cooperate with the inclined faces 48 and 43 respectively so that when the plate 5| is slidably positioned in the recess between the shoulders 4S and 41, it will be anchored against removal except by sliding it along the shoulders 45 and 41. In the bearing 5I there is also formed a bearing opening 54 which alines with the bearing opening 5I) in the large bearing plate 42.

In the process of assembly with an even number of type wheels 1, the main bearing plates 42 are first secured in place by the screws 43 and 44 to the inner face of the cylindrical wall 38 with a printing wheel 1 positioned between the opposing faces 55 of such bearing plates 42. The printing wheel as shown in Fig. 3, has a hub portion 53 and 51 extending from opposite faces thereof which are previously positioned in the bearing openings 5G of two plates 42 having the faces "55 opposing one another, or with a type wheel 1 disposed between the opposing faces 55 of two adjacent main bearing plates 42. Thereupon two small bearing plates E-l are positioned on the opposite hubs 56 and 51 of another type wheel 1 and these three elements as a unit are slidably mounted into place by sliding the small bearing plates 5i along in the recesses formed between the shoulders 4d and 41 of two adjacent main bearing plates 42 having the faces 58 of their shoulders 45 opposing one another. Thereupon, to anchor the slidable bearing members 5I with their associated printing wheel 1 in place, the closure member 59 is secured in place bythe screws 6H extending through the closure member 59 and screw-threadedly connected to several of the main bearing plates 42. In the present instance, it has been found satisfactory to pro- Vide nine of such screws 55. The closure member 59 consists essentially of a disc member 6I and a cylindrical portion 62 abutting against the edge of the cylindrical portion 38 and overlapping the extended portions of the bases 4I of the main bearing plates 42.

The disc portion 35 of the drum portion I4 and the disc portion 5I of the closure member 59 are provided with openings 63 and 64 respectively, to receive the hollow shaft 65.

In the present instance the closure member 59 is provided with teeth 56 on its periphery for driving engagement with the drive of the rotary press formed in the housing 3. Adjacent to the teeth 66 and radially inward therefrom, there extends the cylindrical portion G2.

When an odd number of wheels such as used in the present instance is employed, then preferably before the lbearing members 42 are secured in place, an odd shaped bearing member 61 is provided, see particularly Fig. 8 which has an elongated base portion 63 with a bearing opening 69 to receive the bearing collars 'In and 1I which in turn receive the hubs 51 and 56 of the type wheels 1. The outside hubs 56 and 51 of the type wheels 1 and 'I then have mounted thereon the small bearing plates 5I one on each hub 55, 51 and these two additional small bearing plates 5I together with the two type wheels 1, 1 and the odd shaped bearing member 61 are then slid into place between two previously fixed large bearing plates 42, see Fig. 3, and finally the base of the bearing plate 51 secured in place by the screws 'l2 extending through the .cylindrical wall '38 of the drum portion I Each of the type wheels see Fig. 4, has a plurality of type 'i9 provided with faces for producing symbols, markings, letterings or the like. In the present instance it is desired to have each of this type i3 provided with a different symbol such as the symbols shown in Fig. 1, each different from one another and ftydilerent ones formed on each wheel Each wheel l preferably has the same fty different symbols 19. Furthermore, the different symbols 'i3 on each wheel are arranged to succeed one another in the same order and for printing are positioned so that the same identical symbol will be printed duringeach cycle and for a succession of cycles, and when the symbols are changed, the symbols of all ofthe type wheels are changed so that they will again expose another symbol but identical with one another.

As heretofore set forth, the drum M when associated with a companion drum I9 will be required to revolve ifty times in a minute in order to produce forty-five hundred characters in a minute if there are forty-five type wheels mounted on a drum consequently calling for forty-ve impressions in a cycle. Furthermore, these type wheels according to the present invention, are to be actuated to change the type exposed for impression only after a considerable run of any one predetermined symbol. In some instances it might be desirable to run only live thousand of a single symbol at a time, and other instances it might be desirable only to run one thousand of a single type at a time. There may be diierent reasons for having a greater or less number. As an instance, a theatre, possibly in New York, for a single session of one price possibly between 2 p. m. and 4 p. m., would average disposing of at least ve thousand tickets a day. Such a theatre might therefore Wish to have a ticket with a dierent symbol for each day but not tickets of dierent symbols for one and the same session of one and the same day, and therefore be satislied with an allotment of tickets in which each iive thousand tickets has a different symbol.

For actuating the type wheel at the end of each run of a predetermined number, the mechanism now to be described has been provided. lt consists essentially, see Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, of nine bearings 14 secured to the enlarged portion 215 of the disc 8|. Each of these bearings has pivoted thereto a bell crank l having an arm 19 provided with a pawl 11 connected to the end of lthe arm 19 by the spring 18. The end of the pawl is provided with an extended plate 19 wide enough, see Fig. 3, so that it may engage rlve type wheels at a time. The edge of the plate 19, see Fig. 4, is positioned to engage in the spaces 89 formed between successive type l. The bell cranks are provided with the projections 8| cooperating with the compression springs 82 disposed between the projections 8| and the inner face of the enlargement 215 normally to press the arm 16 downward and the finger 19 into engagement with the recesses 80 of ve type wheels l. Each bell crank 15 is also provided with a substantially axially extending arm B2 having a roller 93 journaled at the outer end thereof to be engaged by the cam 84 on the link 85 pivoted at one end to the arm 86 fixed to the hollow shaft 95. The hollow shaft is provided with an opening Bl through which extends the lever 99 fixed on the shaft 89 extending through the hollow shaft 95 and journaled at one end adjacent the opening 81 and at the other end in the frame 99. `The lever 88 is pivoted at one end to the link 9| which is pivoted at the other end to the free end of the lever 85. The lever 85 as clearly shown in Fig. 3, with its cam 84 extends radially outward of the rollers 83 so as to deflect them radially inward when a change is to take place, thereby in turn to actuate the pawls to actuate the type wheels 1 a tooth space or as in the present instance, a type space distance.

The shaft 89 is actuated intermittently by the mechanism now to be described. The shaft 89 has Iixed at one end thereof the lever 92 pivotally connected at one end to the link 93 of a toggle arrangement in association with the lever 99 pivoted at the other end of the link 93 and journaled on the bearing 95 xed on the frame 99. The pivotal connection 96 between the link 99 and the lever 94 is connected by the link 9l to the armature 98 of the electro-magnet 99, the armature 99 being normally spring-pressed outwardly by the spring |08 when the electro-magnet is de-energized.

'I'he lever 92 is actuated and consequently the shaft 89 rotated to in turn actuate the lever 89 when the electro-magnet 99 is energized by the means now to be described. The electro-magnet 99, see Fig. 6, is electrically connected at one end by the conductor |9| with the contact |92 normally spaced apart from the contact A|93 which is connected by the conductor |94 to the conductor |05 ofv the main current supply. The other conductor |09 of the main current supply is connected by the conductor |91 to the other pole of the electro-magnet 99. The electro-magnet 99 is energized when the contacts |92 and |93 are engaged by the lever which is controlled by the cam I l 2, the lever I I having a spur i i9 which engages the outer periphery of the cani disc H2, and when it drops into the recess li, it closes the switch formed by the contacts |92 and |99 in turn to energize the electro-magnet 99.

The cam disc ||2 is fixed on the shaft H5, the speed of which in turn is controlled so that it will make a cycle for each predetermined number of tickets constituting a run.

The speed of the shaft H5 is controlled by the mechanism now to be described. Assuming that the rate of printing is forty-five hundred tickets per minute and that with two drums, each drum prints twenty-two hundred and fty tickets per minute, if each drum has forty-rive type wheels it will require fty revolutions per minute of each drum I4 and I9. Consequently, if the gear M9 is fixed to rotate with the drum lll, the speed of the shaft ||5 can be controlled by operative connections associated with the gear M9. The drum |4 has fixed thereto the gear I9 which is in mesh with the gear on the shaft H9. This shaft ||8 has mounted thereon a worm ||9 in mesh Y with .the worm wheel |29 on the shaft |2| which shaft |2| may be associated with any suitable speed regulating device. The shaft |2| is 'of course the element which controls the in-going speed, that is, the speed going into the speed control mechanism, in the present instance, the Reeves variable speed transmission mounted in the housing |22. On the shaft |2l, according to the variable speed transmission illustrated, there is fixed a sheave element |23 having an inclined face to cooperate with the sheave element |29 sldably mounted on the shaft i2 The inclined faces of the sheave elements |25 and |29 are connected by the belt |25 with the pulley consisting of the sheave elements |29 and |23 having inclined inner faces, the sheave element |29 fixed on the shaft H5 and cooperating with the sheave element |28 slidably mounted on the shaft H5. The shaft I5 in the present instance has fixed thereon the disc H2 shown in Fig. 6 to control the lever in turn to control the contact |05 in its relation to the contact |94 to establish the circuit from the conductor to the conductor |04.

As is conventional with and Characteristic of the Reeves variable speed transmission, the speed translated from the shaft |2| to the shaft l5 will depend upon the positioning of the sheave elements 24 and |29 relative to the sheaves |23 and |26 respectively to correspond to the speed transmitted from the sheave elements |23 and |24 to the sheave elements |26 and |28 by the belt |25. To control the position of the sheave elements |24 and |29, the collars |29 and |30 to which the sheave elements |24 and |29 are fixed, `are in turn fixed to rotate with the shafts |2| and l| l5 respectively but slidabie on such shafts. The slidable position of these collars |29 and |35 is controlled by the lever |3| pivotally mounted on the pivot point |32 and operatively connected at |33 to the collar |29 and at |34 to the collar |30. The upper end of the lever is operatively connected to the collar |95 screw threadedly connected to the thread |35 on the shaft |31 journaled in the walls |39 and |39 cf the housing |22. The outer end of the shaft |31 has mounted thereon the control wheel |40. The shaft |31 is further operatively connected to the pointer |4| which cooperates with the dial |42 calibrated to indicate in the present instance the number of tickets per revolution of the shaft which will be printed by the forty-five printing wheels 1 in the arrangement illustrated. With a vreduction arranged by the gears ||6 and ||1, worm ||9 and worm wheel |20, whereby the shaft 2| will make a single revolution every time one hundred tickets are printed, then when the pointer |4| registers with the mark |43 on the dial |42, the intermediate or neutral speed will be transmitted to the shaft ||5 so that the shaft ||5 will likewise revolve once while one thousand tickets are printed. When the wheel |40 is turned so that the pointer |4| is positioned to the leftY of the mark |43, an increased speed will be transmitted to the shaft i5 so that during a single revolution of the shaft H5, a less number of tickets will be printed, and in turn when the pointer |4| is Dositioned to the right of the mark |43, a decreased speed will be transmitted to the shaft ||5 and the shaft 5 will make a single revolution during the printing of more than one thousand tickets, depending upon the position of the pointer |41 on the dial |42 and in turn the setting of the sheave elements |24 and |23 relative to the sheave elements |23 and |25.

Now depending upon the setting of the pointer |4|, the period when the lever remains in its depressed contact-making position of the contacts |03 and |04 may be greater or less than the period required for the drum |4 tomake one complete cycle and not more nor less than one complete cycle.

To maintain the cam lever 35 in its depressed position just for, and not more nor less than, a complete cycle, the mechanism now to be described is provided. On the frame 99 there is mounted a bearing in which there is journaled the shaft |44 on one end of which there is fixed the gear |45 in mesh with the gear H5. On the other end of the shaft |44 there is rotatably mounted the drum |50 having the cam recess |41 for receiving the cross piece |48 connecting the plates |49 of the levers 94 with'one another. The drum |59 also has a recess |5| therein to receive the clutching roller |52 having the stems |53 extending through the slots |54 to receive the springs |55 for connecting the stems |53 with the pins |56. The roller |52 is positioned in the recess |5| retracted by the springs |55 to connect the drum |50 in driving engagement with the shaft |44, being frictionally held by springs between the inclined face |51 of the recess |5| and the shaft |44. The plates |49 have arcuate edges |53 for engaging the stems |53 against the tension of the springs |55 to maintain the roller |52 out of driving engagement with the shaft |44 when the electroemagnet 99 is deenergized and the armature 98 is in its distended position, that shown in Fig. 5. When, however, the electromagnet 99 is energized, and the toggle elements 93, 94 are straightened out thereby to actuate the arm 92 in turn to rock the shaft 89 and thereby to rock the arm 95 into position for actuating the printing wheels 1, the plates |49 will clear the stems |53 and permit the springs |55 to press the roller |52 into driving engagement with the shaft |44. Thereupon, when the electro-magnet 99 is deenergized, the plates |49 will not immediately be free again to engage the stems |53 and retract the roller |52, but the cross piece |48 will engage the raised periphery of the drum |50 and remain so distended against the tension of the spring |00 until a complete cycle has been completed and the recess |41 permits the cross piece |49 again to drop into the same. S0 that not more than one type 13 engages the ticket strip I2 at one time as it passes into the printing position of the type wheel 1, preferably a guide |59, such vas illustrated in Fig. 4 and more in. detail in Fig. '1, is provided which consists essentially of a main plate portion with flanges |6| and |62 turned over upon the plate |69, spaced therefrom but in alinement therewith, the plate portion |69 having an opening |63 to permit the rotatable platen I3 to engage one face of the strip l2 and hold it in printing engagement with the type 13 of the printing wheels 1. The edge portions |64 and |65 of the guide |59 are deflected outwardly away from the type 13 0f the printing wheels 1 to deflect the strip I2 out of printing engagement with adjacent type 13 of the type wheels 1.

Preferably to check the printing wheels 1 against rotation and maintain them in printing position but yieldable to permit the feeding claws 19 to actuate the same, there are provided the check pawl blades |56 similarly engaging the printing wheels 1 between the successive type 13 and similarly engaging five printing wheels 1, and preferably the same ve printing wheels as are engaged by their associated feeding claws 19. The blades |55 are formed at the ends of levers |51 pivotally mounted on the bearings |58 secured to the ydisc 36 adjacent to the hollow shaft 64, each with an extension |59 connected by a spring |10 with the inner face of the disc 3G to yieldably maintain the check pawl blades |89 in engagement with the printing wheels 1.

So that the check pawl blades |56 and the blades 19 do not mar the type face of the type 13, these blades |86 and 19 are preferably recessed to clear the type 13 but eectively to engage the ends of the recesses between the type 13, as shown in Fig. l2, the recesses being sufficient to clear theedge of the type 13 when riding on the peripheral portions |8| of the type wheels 1. The blades Preferably also, so that the ink is effectively cleaned from the type 13 before each successive impression, and particularly before effecting a change of type, an ink removing device is provided immediately after the printing position, see Fig. 3, so that the roller |12 preferably composed of a suitable buiing material such as rubber, felt or the like, is spring-pressed into engagement with the type 'i3 of the drum Ill. The roller |72 is also spring-pressed into engagement with the steel roller 113 in engagement with which there is provided the scraper H4 for removing and depositing the ink received by the steel roller H3 into the receptacle H5. Preferably the gear H6 on the shaft of the roller |12 is drivingly connected to the teeth c6 of the'drum le by the intermediate gear ITI so that the bufiing roller H2 may rotate'in the opposite direction to that of the drum lli. Preferably also the steel roller V53 is provided with a gear H8 driven from gear H5 through the intermediate gear il@ so that it likewise will rotate in a direction opposite to that of thebufiing roller H2.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. The combination of a rotatable type-carrying drum having a disc and a cylindrical wall extending from said disc with a plurality of axially extending slots in said wall terminating inthe outer free edge of said wall, a plurality of bearings secured to the inner face of said cylindrical wall, a plurality of type wheels journaled'in said bearings radially mounted in said 4drums with their axes transverse to the axis of said drum, one slot for each type wheel to enable a type of each type wheel to extend through said slot to cooperate with a strip intermediate the type and the platen to impress a marking on the strip and I facilitating the positioning of said type wheels, a closure for the drum having a cylindrical Wall in alinement with the cylindrical Wall of the drum and connected thereto to close the free ends of said slots, said closure having gear teeth on its periphery for cooperation with actuating means to rotate said drum.

2. The combination of a printing support, a drum, means for actuating said drum to rotate with its cylindrical face moving with and in the direction of the path of movement of a strip to receive the impressions, a plurality of type wheels i having youtwardly extending hubs, fixed and slid- -able bearing plates for supporting said type wheels radially in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of the drum, said xed bearing plates arranged in pairs and secured to the inner cylindrical face of said drum and having recesses in the opposing faces of each pair, a pair of slidable bearing plates slidable into said recesses between a pair of xed bearing plates, the hubs of one type wheel journaled in a pair of said slidable bearing plates and disposed between a pair, the adjacent outer faces of adjacent pairs of fixed bearing plates being spaced apart to receive a type Wheel therebetween with the hubs of such type wheel journaled in the opposing outer fixed bearing plates, and a closure including a disc for anchoring said slidable bearing plates in place, each type wheel having a plurality of different type on its periphery, there being openings in the cylindrical wall of said drum, one opening for each type wheel to enable the type of each type wheel to extend through an opening to cooperate with the strip intermediate the type and the support to impress a marking on the strip.

3. The combination of a printing support, a drum including a disc having a cylindrical wall extending therefrom with a plurality of openings in said cylindrical wall extending axially and terminating at the free edge of said cylindrical wall, a plurality of type Wheels having outwardly extending hubs, fixed and slidable bearing plates for supporting said type wheels radially in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of the drum, said fixed bearing plates arranged in pairs and secured to the inner face of said cylindrical wall with one fixed bearing plate between each two successive openings in said cylindrical wall, there being recesses in the opposing faces of each pair of fixed bearing plates, a pair of slidable bearing plates slidable into said recesses between a pair of fixed bearing plates, the hubs of one type wheel journaled in a pair of said slidable bearing plates and disposed between a pair, the adjacent outer faces of adjacent pairs of xed bearing plates being spaced apart to receive a type wheel therebetween with the hubs of such type wheel journaled in the opposing outer fixed bearing plates, and a closure including a disc for anchoring vsaid slidable bearing plates in place.

4. The combination of a printing support, a drum, means for actuating said drum to rotate with its cylindrical face moving with and in the direction of the path of movement of a strip to receive impressions, a plurality of type Wheels radially mounted in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of the drum, each type wheel having a plurality of different type on its periphery, there being openings in the cylindrical wall of said drum, one opening for each type wheel to enable a type of each type wheel to extend through an opening to cooperate with the strip intermediate the type and the support to impress a marking on the strip, a mechanism for actuating said printing wheels intermittently while the drum is rotating to enable a change of type to be made without arresting either the feed of the strip or the rotation of the drum, said mechanism including a plurality of pivotally mounted spring pressed claws, each claw engaging a number of successive type Wheels at their periphery between successive type, a plurality of check pawls corresponding in number to said ciavvs and each associated with a claw and having a blade cooperating with the peripheries between successive type of the same type wheels engaged by its associated claw, and means for intermittently actuating said claws.

5. The combination of a cylindrical type carrying drum, a plurality of type wheels having out- Wardly extending hubs, tied and slidable bearing plates for supporting said typ-e wheels radially in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of the drum, said fixed bearing plates arranged in pairs and secured to the inner cylindrical face of saidV drum and having recesses in the opposing outer faces of each pair of fixed bearing plates, a pair of slidable bearing plates slidable into said recesses between a pair of fixed bearing plates, the hubs of certain of said type wheels journaled in a pair of said slidable bearing plates, the adjacent inner faces of each pair of fixed bearing plates being spaced apart to receive a type wheel therebetween with the hubs of such type wheel journaled in the opposing inner faces of such pair of xed bearing plates, and a closure including a -disc for anchoring said Vslidalole bearing plates in place, each type wheel having a plurality of different typeV on its periphery, there being openings in the cylindrical Wall of said drum, one opening for each type wheel to enable the type of each type Wheel to extend through an opening to impress a marking on a strip.

6. The combination of a rotatable type carrying drum having a disc and a cylindrical wall extending from said disc with a plurality of axially extending slots in said cylindrical Wall terminating in the outer free edge of` said Wall, one set of bearings secured to the inner face of said cylindrical Wall, one set of type Wheels journaled in said bearings radially mounted in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of said drum', a second set of bearings slidably connected to said rst set of bearings, a second set of type Wheels journaled in said second set of bearings and also radially mounted in said drum. with their axes l,

transverse to the axis of said drum, one of said slots for each of said type Wheels to enable a type of each of said type wheels to extend through its slot to impress a marking on a strip, and a closure for the drum connected to said cylindrical Wall to 'close the free ends of said slots and engaging the outer edges of said slidable brackets to position the same.

7. The combination of a rotatable type carrying drum having a disc and a cylindrical Wall extending from said disc with a plurality of axially extending slots in said cylindrical Wall terminating in the outer free edge of said wall, one set of bearings secured to the inner face of said cylindrical Wall, one set 0i type Wheels journaled in said bearings radially mounted in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of said drum, a second set of bearings slidably connected to said first set of bearings, a second set of type Wheels j'ournaled in said second set of bearings and also radially mounted in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of said drum, one of said slots for each of said type Wheels to enable a type of each of said type Wheels to extend through its slot to impress a marking on a strip, and a closure for the drum connected to said cylindrical Wall to close the free ends of said slots and engaging the outer edges of said slidable brackets to position the same, said closure having gear teeth on its periphery for cooperation with said actuating means to rotate said drum.

8. The combination of a cylindrical type carrying drum, a plurality of type Wheels having outwardly extending hubs, xed and slidable bearing plates for supporting said type Wheels radially in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of the drum, said xed bearing plates arranged in pairs and secured to the inner cylindrical face of said drum and having recesses in the opposing outer faces of each pair of xed bearing plates, a pair of slidable bearing plates slidable into said recesses between a pair of xed bearing plates, the hubs of certain of said type Wheels journaled in a pair of said slidable bearing plates, the adjacent inner faces of each pair of fixed bearing plates being spaced apart to receive a type wheel therebetween With the hubs of such type Wheel journaled in the opposing inner faces of such pair of xed bearing plates, each type wheel having a plurality of diierent type on its periphery, there being openings in the cylindrical Wall of said drum, one opening for each type Wheel to enable the type of each type wheel to extend through an opening to impress a marking on a strip.

9. The combination of a rotatable type carrying drum having a disc and a cylindrical Wall extending from said disc with a plurality of axially extending slots in said cylindrical Wall terminating in the outer free edge of said Wall, one set of bearings secured to the inner face of said cylindrical wall, one set of type Wheels journaled in said bearings radially mounted in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of said drum, a second set of bearings slidably connected to said rst set of bearings, and a second set of type Wheels journaled in said second set of bearings and also radially mounted in said drum with their axes transverse to the axis of said drum, one of said slots for each of said type Wheels to enable a type of each of said type Wheels to extend through its slot to impress a marking on a strip.

BENJAMIN H. FREEDMAN. 

